Safety device for elevators.



No. 687,185 Patented Nov. 26, 190|.

U. S. ALZ.

SAFETY DEVICE FOB ELEVATORS. (Appliation fledmar, 30, 1901.)

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IINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

URBAN S. ALZ, OF GARDENVILLE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK DENHARD, OF BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

SPEGIFEGATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,186, dated November 26, 1901.

Application med March 30,1901. serial No. 53,677. cro meer To all whom t 77mg/ concern.-

Beit known that I, URBAN S. ALZ, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gardenville, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of this invention is to provide air-cushion devices for elevator-cars, so that in case of an accident to the hoisting and lowering mechanism a rapid descent of the car will be gradually checked at the bottom ofthe well or shaft, and thereby overcome a sudden jar or stoppage.

A further object of the invention is to provide aircushion devices ot this character which can be conveniently applied to an elevator car without any material alteration thereof, and, furthermore, to so locate the said devices as not to interfere in any Way with the proper operation of the car or occupy space which Would prevent free use ofthe car and shaft.

With the above objects in view the invention consists in locating in each of the four corners of the elevator-car along tube or cylinder, closed at its upper end, and providing said cylinder with a piston having a cupshaped washer adapted to compress the air in the cylinder above said piston and form an air-cushion, the said piston carrying a rod or bar which depends belovsr the cylinder and car to serve as a support for the 'latter'.

The following specication enters into a detail description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to letters of reference thereon, and what I claim inthe particular construction of the aircushion devices andtheir arrangement within the car is more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure l is a View showing the application of my invention to an elevator-car. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View of one of the air-cushions. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of one of the pistons located in the tubes.

In carrying out my invention the ceiling and floor of an elevator-car are cut away in the corners suiiciently to receive the ends of tubes or long cylinders A, which extend the full height of the car and are rmly secured therein in any suitable manner. The upper ends of these cylinders are closed by means of plugs B, which are preferably provided with flanges by which the upper end of the cylinder is secured to the top or ceiling of the car. It will be here noted that the said cylinders are located `closely in the corners of the car, and as theyare comparatively small will occupy but very little space and their particular location will not reduce the -'capacity of the car.

In each cylinder A is located a piston O, consisting of heads c c, between which is clamped a cup-shaped washer c', said washer being preferably made of leather of suitable thickness. The washer is dished upward, as shown, so that upon an upward movement of the piston the airin the cylinder will be compressed above the same and pressing upon the projecting edges of said washer will force the same against the cylinder and form a tight piston. On the other hand, when said piston descends the dished washer will contract and permit the air to pass into the cylinder around the same. The piston is therefore constructed similar to that of an ordinary bicycle-pump and is of particular advantage in this application of the same, in thatit will descend in the cylinder of its own weight and form a tight piston and effective air-cushion when forced upward.

To each piston O is connected a rod or bar D, which extendst-herefrom through the bottom of the cylinder and is provided with collars d d', limiting its downward movement and also serving as an extra guide therefor, the collars having holes toallow the air to pass through the same. It will be understood that the rod or bar D may pass loosely through an opening in the bottom of the cylinder, so that air will freely enter said cylinder; but I prefer to have the rod closely t a central opening and have air-inlet openings around the said central opening in order that the rod will then be properly guided at the lower end of the cylinder.

When the air-cushion devices hereinbe'- fore described are applied to an elevator-car, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the

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bottom of the shaft on a line with said rods.

The tubes or cylinders are carried within the car and being very long will give a wide range of movement to the pistons, and it will be understood that the strength of these tubes or cylinders will be such as to withstand the pressure that will come upon the same in casev the car should drop from a considerable height. The bars D are braced by cross-bars f, slidable upon the aforesaid bars and supported thereon by chains f'.

The particular construction and arrangement of my improved air-cushion devices will therefore not only provide a simple and effective means for arresting the rapid descent of a car in case of accident thereto, but also permit the said devices to be carried by the car without decreasing its carrying capacity or otherwise mar the appearance or conveniences of the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a safety device for elevators, the combination with the elevator-car, of tubes or long cylinders located in the corners thereof, pistons Working in said cylinders, and rods secured to the pistons and depending therefrom through the lower ends of the cylinders, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a safety device for elevators, the combination with the elevator-car, of tubes or long cylinders located in the corners thereof and extending from the ceiling to the floor, said cylinders being closed at their upper ends, pistons working in the cylinders and provided with cup-shaped Washers dished npward, rods secured to the pistons and depending below the lower ends of the cylinders, and guides for said rods, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a safety device for elevators, the combination with the elevator-car, of tubes or long cylinders located in the corners of the car, plugs closing the upper ends of said cylinders, pistons with cup-shaped flexible washers working in said cylinders, rods attached to said pistons and projecting through the lower ends of the cylinders, a collar on said rods, and blocks in the bottom of the shaft having concave surfaces adapted to receive the ends of the rods, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

URBAN S. ALZ.

NVitnesses:

AUGUSTUS M. DENHARD, J. ALEX. I-IILLEARY, Jr. 

